Three Cases of Chemical Burns Caused Due to Dimethyl Sulfate Poisoning

Cureus. 2024 Mar 27;16(3):e57060. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57060. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is a drug widely used as a pharmaceutical and synthetic raw material. On the other hand, it is highly toxic and requires management and treatment as a hazardous substance. A mass outbreak of chemical burns resulting from DMS poisoning occurred at a drug factory. All three patients were brought to our hospital, a tertiary emergency medical facility, several hours after exposure. Their vital signs were stable, with only eye pain and a sore throat. However, after admission, two patients required emergency tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation due to laryngeal edema. Improvement was achieved through the administration of steroids, but a severely injured patient required an extended treatment period. DMS poisoning is rare; however, it can be fatal depending on the exposure concentration. Furthermore, even if the initial symptoms are mild, laryngeal edema may develop later, requiring careful monitoring and appropriate airway interventions.

Keywords: airway emergency; chemical burns; dimethyl sulfate; mass outbreak; poisoning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports